Fence post



July 23, 1935. N. B. OBBARD FENCE POST Filed Dec' 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet2 MUG/MOT Noe/ 44w 5. 055450 Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 1 Claim.

Ihis invention relates to fence posts, and has for one of its objectsthe provision of a novel fence post which is extremely durable andeflicient, and which is cheap and easy to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel fence post whichmay be conveniently made from standard shapes, such as tubes, H and Ibeams, etc., whereby the remaining or scrap metal is reduced to aminimum.

A further object is to produce a fence post having tapered ends enablingit to be easily driven into the ground, and a reenforced central portionat the surface of the groundin order that it will successfully withstandthe strain it will encounter in use.

These and other objects will appear after referring to the drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved fence post in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is a view taken on the lines IIIIII of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevation of an improved ground anchor for my novelfencepost.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are alternative views of the invention duringvarious stages of its manufacture.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 indicates themain flange of my improved fence post which has an integral web portion3 tapering from a point at each of its ends to a widened portionintermediate its ends. A short flange 4 is made integral with thewidened portion of the web 3. The ends of both of the flanges 2 and 4are sharpened or pointed at their ends 5 in order that they may be moreeasily driven into the ground. These flanges 2 and 4 are furtherprovided with tips 1 which augment the function of the sharpened orpointed ends 5.

In use the fence post will be driven half-way into the ground, and dueto its enlarged web and the flange 4 will be heavily reenforced at thesurface of the ground.

The flanges 2 are further provided with holes 6 through which areinserted the clamping me-- dium, such as bolts 8, having a hoked endportion 8 i A cable i is placed within the hook 8 and in contact with achannel member 9 which abuts the flange 2 of the fence post. A nut H isthreaded on the shank of the bolt 8 in order that the cable and itsclamping assembly may be firmly secured to the flange.

While the invention is shown in connection with conventional H and Ibeams, it is to be understood that a tubular or other well known form ofblank may be used with equal success.

An improved ground anchor for my fence post is illustrated in Figure 2,and is shown as embodying a flange 2, a pointed end 5, tip 1 and tau--pering web portions 3, all of which are similar in detail to the fencepost. A hole I2 is provided in the widest portion of the web 3 forsecuring a rope or cable thereto.

Both fence post and ground anchor may be manufactured from standard Hand I beams, tubes, etc., in accordance with my method. Referring toFigures 3 and 4, in practicing the meth 0d the flanges of a standardbeam are first sheared at determined intervals on alternate flanges inorder to provide the sharpened or pointed ends 5.

Next the web of the beam is sheared diagonally to the previously shearedportions of the flanges. This is done in alternate direction so as toprovide the large or long flange being formed first from one flange ofthe beam and then from the other flange. This alternate shearing makesfor a, minimum scrap-loss throughout the operation.

The shearing itself may be accomplished in any of the well knownpractices, or may be done by welding.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my inventionit will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto,since various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof my invention, as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A fence post comprising a, flange having pointed ends, a web integralwith said flange and tapering from a point at each of its ends to asubstantially wide intermediate portion, and a short flange havingpointed ends integral with the intermediate portion of said web, thesubstantially wide intermediate portion: of said web being adapted to beplaced at the ground level.

NORMAN B. OBBARD.

